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That's A Wrap

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Another bowl season comes to an end and for whatever reason, I remember it being more difficult to watch all these games. 39 bowl games and one championship game that I didn't watch all the way through. No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 1 LSU As usual, another four hour affair. Clemson had a spark to start, scoring first but LSU has too much talent and was leading by half.  I made it to about three minutes left in the 3rd quarter and went to bed fairly confident LSU was going to win. I really don't enjoy this game at all, it's always way too long and too late.  Give me a good Belk Bowl on a Friday with a noon kickoff, that's bowl season. The games are all too long, can't think of one that played to three hours or under but at least most don't drag things out until after midnight. ESPN obviously doesn't care but I would do two things to improve this game for fans at home and on site. 1.  Move the game to the Saturday before the NFL Championship games. More acco...
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Armed Forces Bowl

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Almost at the end.  Just one game on Saturday before the NFL Wildcard games.  Tulane vs. Southern Miss This game is played in Fort Worth, Texas and had a 10:30am local start time.  The fact that there were fans in the stands was somewhat amazing. These two teams used to play all the time when they were independents but this was their first meeting in 10 years as both are in conferences now.  Southern Miss opened with two quick scores. Tulane's coach had a quick sideline meeting was his team and whatever he said worked as the Green Wave kept them out of the end zone the rest of the way. Tulane put up 24 in the third quarter and that was game.  Not a great game but Tulane's uniforms were on point.  Tulane 30  Southern Miss 13 My pick:  Tulane My bet:  Tulane -7.5, first of two winners on the day, also had Tennessee +5 in the playoff game against New England.  Game Notes -Second consecutive bowl win for Tulane.  ...
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The one with the Bigfoot story

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Back where I started this year's journey, watching bowl games at work. I had the Birmingham Bowl yesterday and the game in Idaho today. Since Idaho is Bigfoot country I thought I'd share my "encounter" story for anyone who hasn't heard it, which I thought was most people I knew.  But first... Ohio vs. Nevada Normally this game is on the first couple days of bowl season but the compressed schedule moves it to January 3rd in the middle of the afternoon.  Ohio's run based attack was enough to hold off Nevada's air game. Nevada did mount a comeback in the 4th quarter including a poorly timed trick play in the red zone that resulted in a turnover.  Ohio 30  Nevada 21 My pick: Nevada, record now 27-11 My bet:  I'm terrible at betting, misread the spread and took a loss with Ohio -10. A pro gambler I am not.  Game Notes Fun facts!  Not sure how it's "fun" but Germans eat a lot of potatoes.  What Did I Eat:  Nothing, I w...
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Back To Work

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After a longer than usual layoff, I went back to work when it felt like a Monday on a Thursday. Yes, I didn't post about the New Year's Day games. Did I watch them all, you know it.  Citrus Bowl - watched the first half. Came back for the delicious Michigan loss. Bama win, my pick.  Outback Bowl - third quarter, Minnesota surprised me with the win. Pick, Auburn.  Rose Bowl - maybe the best game of the season, but so long. Pick, Oregon.  Cotton Bowl - does anyone care about a Georgia/Baylor game?  Pick, Georgia.  What Did I Eat:  New Year's Eve food, and then my wife used her Instapot to make bean soup. So yeah, New Year's Eve food.  Cincinnati vs. Boston College  After eight minutes this game was on hold due to weather. I was watching at work. First day back since the long holiday layoff. Nice to come back to unexpected problems.  After a 90 minute delay, the Bearcats poured it on.  Have I mentioned much of my mone...
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Last Bowl Games of the Decade

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Five games to wrap up 2019. For whatever reason I woke up at 5am, guess I couldn't wait for the last day of the year and decade. Here's a quick rip through the action.  Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech Bowl game beef alert!  The two teams got into an altercation at a pre-game event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday.  The beef carried over to the pre-game warm ups where Kentucky quarterback Lynn Bowden took a a swing at a Virginia Tech player. Because the punch took place before the official warm up time, Bowden couldn't be kicked out of the game. Got all that? Good thing for Kentucky, because Bowden tore it up.  Bowden ran 34 times for 233 yards, two touchdowns and threw the game winning touchdown with seconds left. Virginia Tech tried one of those multiple lateral plays at the end that wound up with a Kentucky scoop and score.  Kentucky 37  Virginia Tech 30 My pick:  Virginia Tech My bet:  Virginia Tech -2.5, thought I was going to...
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The Wall

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Yup, hitting the wall of bowl game watching with four games on Monday. Even my wife came into the family room and said "Aren't you sick of these games?"  Yes, yes I am and so are you based on page views. Never the less, four more in the books. Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan When both teams have Western in their name it's a good sign there is no need for this game. It was a telling sign last year when bad weather cancelled this game in the first quarter. Unfortunately no such luck this go around with plenty of sunshine and a miniscule crowd in Dallas. All you need to know is that the threat of overtime hung over this game until Western Michigan had too many players on the field on the last play, giving the Hilltoppers an extra play to kick the winning field goal.  WKU 23  WMU 20 My pick:  Western Kentucky My bet:  The over at 55.  I was sort of rooting for overtime, sort of.  Game Notes -This was Western Michigan's 10th bo...
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Bowling and Bowl Games

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I put the bowl in BowlQuest on the biggest day of games.  Penn State vs. Memphis Two games on at the same time so I started with the Cotton Bowl. It took both teams a few series to warm up and then it was a shootout. The most points in the first half and game total. You don't think of Penn State and shootout together but their running game lead by Journey Brown (best name of BowlQuest contender) was unstoppable.  Penn State 53  Memphis 39 My Pick:  Penn State Game Notes Journey Brown had one touchdown run where at least half the Memphis defense tried to drag him down and he threw them around like rag dolls. What Did I Eat:  Small bag of Hen In The Woods Red Vinegar potato chips. Bowl Swag:  It's a secret Notre Dame vs. Iowa State The first time these two teams have played each other. I had no interest in this one, so it was the second quarter and done.  Didn't miss much, Notre Dame took care of business on a wet field in Orl...
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